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In Italy many artisans have become unique in the world thanks to their work, style and passion. This is the case of the master hatmaker Lorenzo Borghi.

In a narrow street hidden in a labyrinth of picturesque alleys behind the Duomo, the landmark cathedral in the centre of Milan. It seems an unlikely location for a modest shop that welcomes clients from all over the world. There is nothing more than a single display window with a handful of striking hats and a small sign to mark the entrance.

Inside his shop the master hatmaker Lorenzo Borghi has been working for nearly 60 years, creating elegant hats for clients ranging from well-heeled Milanese women to international royalty, including the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II who received one of his hats a decade ago.

Borghi was born into a poor family in wartime Milan in 1940. Desperate for a job, the young man lied about his age to secure a spot in the hat…